Tanzania Chamber of Minerals and Energy (TCME) has asked Tanzanian journalists to work responsibly and help in portraying the good image of the country to attract more investors in the mining sector in particular.
A TCME statement issued in Dar es Salaam raised issue with a series of misleading reporting on the mining industry by the Tanzanian media, following an accident on May 23, this year, in which a boy died after falling into a pit at Geita Gold mine site.
The statement said investigations by AngloGold Ashanti, the owner and operator of Geita Gold Mine and the police, have confirmed that the child, with a group of other trespassers, was stealing from the site and fell into the pit attempting to escape the security.
The statement signed by TCME Executive Secretary Emmanuel Jengo, Geita Gold Mine has confirmed that one of its employees has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death. “The death of anyone on its concession is something Geita Gold Mine takes very seriously,” Mr Jengo said in the statement.
Mr Jengo defended AngloGold Ashanti, which is TCME member, describing it as an exemplary corporate partner for Tanzania. In December 2012, the mining company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tanzanian Police Force to provide mutual support in security.
Since 2000, the mining firm has paid 683 million US dollars (over 1bn/-) to the government. The mining industry contributed 3.7 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and generated over 45 per cent of foreign exchange earnings in 2012. Over 15,000 Tanzanians have direct employment with mining firms and their contractors.
